Amherst Survival Center needs to raise $300,000 more for new building

This is a look at the new Amherst Survival Center. Photo by Diane Lederman/The Republican

AMHERST — The new Amherst Survival Center is on target for an October finish, and those leading the fundraising campaign are looking to the community to complete the financial mission as well in the “Help Us Get Home” campaign.

The Center, which provides services for Amherst and 11 other communities including Hadley, Belchertown South Hadley and Deerfield, is $300,000 shy of its $2.5 million goal.
The majority of the donations have come from Amherst residents, said Lynn Griesemer, chairwoman of the Capital Campaign Committee. She’d like to see more donations come from people in the communities the center also serves.

People from Springfield, Easthampton and Greenfield and other areas also come, said board president Jan Eidelson.

The center, by offering an on-site medical clinic, help with finding housing, medical insurance and other services in addition to the free meals, food pantry and free store, is considered unique and that’s why people come, Eidelson said.